Misfortune - Nancy Geary

As an Assistant District Attorney Francis Pratt has proved herself a shrewd lawyer. But nothing she has seen over the years could compare to the situation she becomes embroiled in upon the murder of her stepmother Clio. There are plenty of people in the exclusive community who would wish Clio dead, including Henry Lewis, a talented young doctor; Blair Devlin, Francis's sister; and dissolute socialite Beverly Winters. As she looks beneath the gilded surface of Long Island, one of America's richest communities, Frances delves into a world of crumbling pretences and cruel prejudices. Everyone has a facade. And to uncover a killer, Frances will have to face the demons that stand behind them all.

'A stunning debut . . . Geary, like Richard North Patterson, writes brilliantly about the world of old money, manners, mores, and morals.' Nelson DeMille, bestselling author of The Lion's Game